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Superfoods: Cranberries
From great ways to eat them to their nutritional packed powers, cranberries are one super food you’ll want to include in your family’s diet!
The History of the Bouncing Berry
Once called a “craneberry” due to its strong resemblance to a crane, this tart, tasty berry is a nutritional powerhouse that has been complementing holiday meals for decades. Its magical bouncing abilities were discovered in 1880 when a harvester rolled his berries from his loft to a basket at the end of the stairs in an attempt to move them more quickly. In the process, he discovered that the bruised berries were left on the stairs as the ripe, firm berries bounced to the bottom. Today Americans consume 400 million pounds of this “native to North America” fruit each year.
Nutritional Nods
Native Americans recognized the nutritional properties of the berry far before science proved them to be true. They created sauces and meat cakes called “pemmican” out of the berry, and used it medicinally to stop bleeding and to help cure blood poisoning. The nutritional properties of the cranberry were capitalized on during international voyages at sea, when sailors would eat the red berries to keep scurvy at bay. Later it was determined that prevention was possible due to the fruit’s high Vitamin C content. A serving (1/2 cup) of fresh, unsweetened cranberries provides 10% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C, for a mere 25 calories! A serving also contains a fair amount of fiber (3 grams) and is free of cholesterol, sodium, and fat.
Cranberry Research
Research has shown that cranberries also contain high levels of antioxidants such as Vitamin C and flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins (PACs). These compounds help to strengthen the body’s immune system and to reduce oxidative damage (a cause of premature aging), which has been linked to several age associated diseases. PACs, simply put, help to reduce the amount of bacteria that “stick” to the inside of the body. The PACs found in cranberries demonstrate this effect to a degree beyond what other fruits are capable. That’s a powerful punch for a tiny berry!
Cranberries Make You Healthier from Head to Toe:
- Mouth: PACs reduce bacteria on your teeth and gums
- Heart: Promote heart health markers by antioxidants, which decrease free radical damage
- Stomach: PACs prevent ulcer causing bacteria (H.pylori) from adhering to your stomach wall
- Urinary Tract: PACs help to flush E. coli bacteria out of the bladder, aiding in the prevention of urinary tract infections
How to Select and Store the Perfect Berry
Cranberries are available dried, frozen, fresh, and canned. When purchasing fresh berries, look for ones that are a light to dark red in color, firm to the touch, and shiny. Refrigerated fresh berries should be used within 2 months, and frozen berries are good for up to a year.
Cranberry Concoctions
One of the best things about cranberries is that because they come in a multitude of forms, they are easy to incorporate into dishes that both kids and adults will appreciate. Some easy add-in ideas are listed below.
Dried Cranberries
- Toss them into trail mix for a healthy after school snack
- Sprinkle into a spinach salad for additional color and sweetness
- Add to a brown rice dish with sliced almonds
- Top your high fiber cereal with dried cranberries to change up the texture
Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
- Stuff a baked apple with cranberries and cinnamon for a warm treat on a winter night
- Mix into bran muffins or whole grain pancake batter to add an antioxidant punch to your breakfast
- Stir them into a delicious seasonal sauce or relish- it's one holiday dish you can indulge in guilt free year round!
- Blend frozen berries into a heart healthy smoothie
Alexandria Hardy is a Registered Dietitian employed by Diablo Clinical Research, where she provides nutrition education to clinical research subjects and works on various marketing and nutrition communications. She earned her undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Fitness/Nutrition/Health from Purdue University and completed her internship in Indianapolis, IN. To learn more about her professional background and experiences, please visit http://www.visualcv.com/alexandriahardy.
